Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 76934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“Broken?” I asked as soon as I saw her.
“I don’t even want to talk about it,” she grumbled.
She sounded angry, but I could tell she was using it to cover up something a lot more raw.
“Want me to take her back to the room while you get the supplies?” I asked Venezio.
We both knew the supplies were all in the exam rooms. But he knew what I was really asking for. So he moved away from the handles and nodded.
Alone in the room, I closed the door, then reached to pull her out of the chair and put her on the table. Then I stepped in between her legs as the first whimper escaped her.
“Shh. It’s okay,” I assured her, arms going around her carefully, not sure how hurt she was. “I’m right here.”
“He wouldn’t run,” she cried against my chest. “I told him to run.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, running a hand down her hair. “Well, he’s a Costa.”
“Stupid, stubborn Costa.”
“That’s us,” I agreed. “I know you tried to protect him,” I assured her, pulling her tighter as a cry escaped her. “It’s not your fault he decided it was his job to try to protect you.”
“When… when he grabbed his head and slammed…” She broke off on a whimper.
I hated how the vision crossed my mind so vividly, making my stomach drop out.
“I’m sure he felt the same way seeing you get choked. This was a sucky night, all around.”
“Chris… he shot someone.”
“He did,” I confirmed. “He did what he had to do. What you or I would both have done in the same situation.”
“He’s just a kid.”
“I think we both know he’s barely that anymore.”
“How is he?”
“Concussion. Nasty bite on the inside of his lip. Some bruised ribs. He’s gonna be alright. Probably will be happy to show off to the kids at school after all this.”
“Boys,” she snorted against my chest.
“Yeah, we’re a weird breed. You okay? Really.”
“I don’t know. My mind is spinning. Is it over? Was it just these guys?”
“We don’t know yet. But trust me, everyone is on it. We will have answers soon. That said, the part that involves us is over. We’re gonna be holed up recovering. With a guard, just in case.”
“With lots of sweet treats,” she said. “Especially ice pops. My throat hurts.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell her it was only going to get worse as the inflammation from being strangled really got going.
But I could take care of her
And Liam.
And poor, sick, blithely unaware Charlotte.
It was a small price to pay to have them all home with me. Hurt, sick, but safe.
“Fuck, babe,” I said, pressing my head to the top of hers. “When Liam said they took you… I thought I lost you.”
“I was planning to go with them,” she reminded me. “To get them away from Liam. But then he brought out the chloroform. The last thing I saw was his head being whacked into—”
“Hard head like his,” I cut her off before she spiraled. Like she hadn’t done everything she could to save the kid. “It would take a lot more than that to put him down.”
“I heard I need to cast your leg after all,” Salvatore said, coming in and making us pull away from each other. “Venezio is taking the kid to x-ray,” he explained as he gathered the supplies. “I’m going to loan you the electric wheelchair we have to get around the apartment for a while. I have a knack for knowing who will and won’t be good with crutches. I have no faith in you, my dear.”
Alara let out a little laugh.
I left her to go check on Liam when he came back from his scan.
“They’re fine,” Venezio said. “Salvatore is gonna want to look at the results, but they’re fine. Elastic bandages, ice, and rest.”
With that, he made his way out of the room, leaving me to nudge Liam until he moved over enough for me to sit next to him.
“What’re you doing? Checking on Char?”
“I’m sure Char is sleeping. And Ezzy’s a pro with sick kids. No, I’m placing an order. Think we’re gonna need a lot of supplies to get us through the next few weeks.”
With that, he helped me fill up a cart and place the order while we waited for Salvatore to finish Alara’s cast.
As Venezio said, the ribs were fine, but Salvatore decided to go with the dissolving stitches after all. So I stood by him for moral support as he got a local and a few quick, neat stitches.
Finally, scripts and supplies in hand, we made our way back outside, all of us hissing and wincing at the morning sun like vampires before shuffling into the town car again.
Venezio shoved the electric wheelchair into the trunk, knocked on the roof, and we were off.